DARKSIDE

31 | First Mistake

Nova had to walk fast if she wanted to get to Derek on time, before anyone suspected anything. She couldn't blow this up, not when they were so close.

Clutching the pendrive in her palm, she made her way out of her office and into Derek's as fast as she could.

It was time for lunch already; she could see Derek's secretary packing up to leave for lunch. Nova made sure to pass on a giddy smile when she passed her and she hoped it came across as a shy smile so that it'd look like she was going to Derek to do the couple-y stuff and not because she had to tip him off about her own secretary's suspicious behaviour.

As soon as she entered Derek's office she made sure to click the door shut so that no one could enter. Then, she made her way towards the wide-eyed but cute-looking Derek who had a bunch of papers in hand. He wasn't looking at them anymore though, how could he when his 'fiancé' was barging in his office unannounced. But Nova had no time to be flustered about stuff like that. Yes, she was very much infatuated with the man and if she could, she would definitely have a whole office situated inside of Derek's own huge one, but those things could wait. She was now an agent before his fiancé. And the time to act that way had come.

"Genelia knows," said Nova, taking a seat in front of Derek, who was now placing the bunch of papers he had been previously going through neatly inside a blue file.

"Who?" he asked which caused Nova to roll her eyes. And she did, roll her eyes that is. She wasn't sure where all these new Nova traits were coming from but by looking at Derek's raised eyes, she knew that he at least wasn't against the action.

"Genelia, my secretary? The one who walked in on us when we-"

"Oh, yes. I remember," Derek said quickly, looking away from her for a split second as he lifted a hand up to his neck. Nova felt warmth travel up her own neck when she realised what she almost blurted out. God, she was an absolute mess today, wasn't she? When she didn't speak for a few more seconds after that, Derek asked, "What about her?" and Nova sprung to action once again.

"Oh, she knows."

"Knows what?"

"Yes, about you. Your past. What happened in Cambridge. She knows."

"She knows?"

"Yes, I only found out today."

"How?"

"Derek, you won't believe me, I mean I can hardly believe it myself but, she can be dangerous. Something's not right with her and I had my doubts since a few days ago but I didn't give them much thought and I know – " she added quickly when Derek tilted his head a certain angle and closed his eyes for a second, exhaling a breath. That was his expression for when he didn't approve of something.

"– I know I should've told you about it and I was going to but I just – I'm sorry. I'll be sure to never repeat this mistake again but – yes. She knows. It was this morning, I had just entered my cabin and I was just sitting there, waiting for my laptop to boot as I looked through some files when she came in with my morning coffee – and Derek, I didn't even hear her enter. How can that be? But, yes, so she came in all happy and bubbly and cheery – just like she had been that day when – yeah so. She asks me why I was so happy because apparently I was glowing and I told her what I thought any engaged woman who wants to get married as soon as possible would – I told her it was just pre-wedding glow –"

"– You what?"

"– Yes! I know, I'm so embarrassed right now telling you this but – oh, well, so that's when she completely changes. Like, she's not smiling anymore, she's not even moving an inch and when I ask her she suddenly lashes out. She said she knew you and she knew what you did and that she thought we were just acting and lying about this relationship, she thought we just wanted to gain fame and get Watson & Co. going up all the while my father also gets benefitted. She thought this wasn't real but when she knew that we actually were going to get married she began, like, warning me and stuff and – yeah, so that's how I found out."